finally did an ATI ICP test...sps STN.

[jd-woodlands]

Ditch the refractometer and get a digital version, the new Hanna one is really nice and affordable. You’d be surprised at how off you might be.

Once stable on salinity raise the po4, I’ve had success with coral food / powders as a way to raise nutrient levels.

I lost lots of acros before stabilizing and getting nutrients up.

 

[User1]

Not sure about the rest but I will toss my hand in support of the salinity and that you should double and triple check. I use ATI for my ICP tests and have sent in three so far going back to late last year. I did it because I was fighting some phosphate issues and wanted to see what it said some of the values are reported has specifically salinity, phosphate, and nitrate. First test that came back said my salinity was too low. I did some reading and later picked up some calibration fluid - ran a quick calibration and now everything is in sync. To verify I went back through my Apex logs and sure enough everything it said was a bit lower and I just ignored it. 2nd and 3rd ICP test are spot on now.

I also had a report of high tin and zinc. I couldn't understand why the tin since I do not have any magnets in my tank. I use Sea Swirls for returns although I guess it could be a return pump. Those are new, Neptune Cor 15 and 20 respectively, and no issues. So not sure why the numbers are what they are. I do have a Brightwell block that could be the source. Zinc all I can see is that someone mentioned to me if I use lotion on my hands and I said yes. Since then I've been using gloves but it is still being reported.

My point in this is that ATI is a pretty good measurement for salinity, nitrate, and phosphates. Some of the other elements also but these are the ones I focus on as I test before I send off a water sample and collect and send off so I can compare results. The other stuff I just use as a guide. Calibrating or using a known reference is a good thing to do. We are starting to see people do this now with their trident and left over calibration fluid for what it is worth.

 

[madweazl]

Ditch the refractometer and get a digital version, the new Hanna one is really nice and affordable. You’d be surprised at how off you might be.

Once stable on salinity raise the po4, I’ve had success with coral food / powders as a way to raise nutrient levels.

I lost lots of acros before stabilizing and getting nutrients up.

Some new calibration fluid would be much more economical and the Hanna isn't any better. Even cheaper is to whip up your batch to double check everything.

 

[jd-woodlands]

Some new calibration fluid would be much more economical and the Hanna isn't any better. Even cheaper is to whip up your batch to double check everything.

I’d trust a digital probe that uses calibration fluid and adjusts for temperature vs an optical refractometer for real accuracy. It’s very easy to be .5 to 1 ppt off on a “calibrated” optical refractometer.

In my instance I was .75 to 1.25 ppt off on salinity regularly when using an optical refractometer that was properly calibrated using fresh solution.

I check the Hanna against my apex probe and get identical readings - it comes in handy when mixing up new water, checking current salinity in tanks before a water change. $69 isn’t much in the grand scheme of a reef tank when you goal is keeping sps.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Where did I say icp is wrong? All I stated was I calibrated my refractometer with calibration solution. So you instantly assume I think there testing is wrong? When I never did state such. And to further update my calibration solution expired in 2016 shame on me.

@Scorchx1245, sorry I offended you. When you stated

i did notice salinity was low but my refractometer using calibration fluid 35ppt is on...

it sounded like you were saying that the icp test showed it low, but your refractometer was calibrated using fluid, so your refractometer must be right. If my comment made you look at the expiration date of your calibration fluid, then good. Just trying to help. Good luck, I'll refrain from trying to help in the future.

 

[madweazl]

I’d trust a digital probe that uses calibration fluid and adjusts for temperature vs an optical refractometer for real accuracy. It’s very easy to be .5 to 1 ppt off on a “calibrated” optical refractometer.

In my instance I was .75 to 1.25 ppt off on salinity regularly when using an optical refractometer that was properly calibrated using fresh solution.

I check the Hanna against my apex probe and get identical readings - it comes in handy when mixing up new water, checking current salinity in tanks before a water change. $69 isn’t much in the grand scheme of a reef tank when you goal is keeping sps.

The conductivity probe would be the absolute last thing I trusted; I'd trust my tongue more than it.

 

[Scorchx1245]

So I got new calibration solution today and my refractometer was off by 2.5 3ppt. So that answers that. And it's the comdenscending tone towards my comment it, was a puzzled response instead of just assuming I'm arrogant maybe rephrase. It's the internet everyone gets upset and maybe I came at you the wrong way @IslandLifeReef

 

[drawman]

Good to find that. I would raise it slowly and just understand your SPS may not respond immediately to the change. Hope things go on the up and up!

 

[IslandLifeReef]

So I got new calibration solution today and my refractometer was off by 2.5 3ppt. So that answers that. And it's the comdenscending tone towards my comment it, was a puzzled response instead of just assuming I'm arrogant maybe rephrase. It's the internet everyone gets upset and maybe I came at you the wrong way @IslandLifeReef

So I'm condescending, make assumptions about you, and need to rephrase the way I try to help you. Got it.;):rolleyes:

 

[Scorchx1245]

You want it you got it.

 

[Shredded]

I realize this is a couple of weeks old but I was fighting keeping my corals alive and growing also (tank is almost 2 years old now) and I recently did my first 2 ATI - ICP tests. The first one came back with a 75%! I also had my RODI water checked at the same time, a free service, but I highly recommend it as I now know that my RODI water is perfect and I can take that out of the equation. I made the adjustments recommended and the second test came back at 92%. Between these two tests the improvement in my corals, particularly acros was dramatic. Corals that were on the verge of dying, just hanging on, tissue thinning, tips burning, recovered rapidly. Algae covered tips recovered although snipping them caused even faster growth. Colors are crazy now. My Strawberry Shortcake that had been barely subsisting is now unbelievable. (actually puts my Walt Disney to shame) and has covered the whole top of a rock and has at least 10 new vertical branches going up. I am so excited about this that I want to switch over to their two part system and run their ICP test every other month. I have already purchased some of there individual elements. Now, my tests were not the same as the OPs and I am no where near as experienced as most of you guys/girls, but the one thing that helped the most and really turned mine around, no body mentioned. I noticed that everyone focused on the metals and that is understandable. (I didn't have those issues) but the one really saved my corals is the Iodine. Mine was the same. Very low. I adjusted that with the only thing I had at the time and that was one of the Red Sea Coral colors Iodine supplement and used the Red Sea test kit to verify. Now, since there are other issues going on here, there are other things to address, but I would definitely boost that Iodine level sooner then later. Just my experience.

 

[Cory]

I realize this is a couple of weeks old but I was fighting keeping my corals alive and growing also (tank is almost 2 years old now) and I recently did my first 2 ATI - ICP tests. The first one came back with a 75%! I also had my RODI water checked at the same time, a free service, but I highly recommend it as I now know that my RODI water is perfect and I can take that out of the equation. I made the adjustments recommended and the second test came back at 92%. Between these two tests the improvement in my corals, particularly acros was dramatic. Corals that were on the verge of dying, just hanging on, tissue thinning, tips burning, recovered rapidly. Algae covered tips recovered although snipping them caused even faster growth. Colors are crazy now. My Strawberry Shortcake that had been barely subsisting is now unbelievable. (actually puts my Walt Disney to shame) and has covered the whole top of a rock and has at least 10 new vertical branches going up. I am so excited about this that I want to switch over to their two part system and run their ICP test every other month. I have already purchased some of there individual elements. Now, my tests were not the same as the OPs and I am no where near as experienced as most of you guys/girls, but the one thing that helped the most and really turned mine around, no body mentioned. I noticed that everyone focused on the metals and that is understandable. (I didn't have those issues) but the one really saved my corals is the Iodine. Mine was the same. Very low. I adjusted that with the only thing I had at the time and that was one of the Red Sea Coral colors Iodine supplement and used the Red Sea test kit to verify. Now, since there are other issues going on here, there are other things to address, but I would definitely boost that Iodine level sooner then later. Just my experience.

What do you mean came back at 75%? The salinity?

 

[Shredded]

What do you kean came back at 75%? The salinity?

No, ATI compares your sample with a sample of reef water from Fiji. Depending upon how close your sample matches the Fiji NSW sample you are given a score. The closer you are to the Fiji sample, the higher your percentage.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No, ATI compares your sample with a sample of reef water from Fiji. Depending upon how close your sample matches the Fiji NSW sample you are given a score. The closer you are to the Fiji sample, the higher your percentage.

Sounds very gimmicky. lol

 

[Shredded]

Sounds very gimmicky. lol

Really? Can you tell me why? I'm definitely not on your level, but it sounded like picking a baseline, all be it random, to compare to, and have a standard to try to meet seemed solid. And what supported that in my head was when i made the adjustments suggested after my first test, my percentage went from 75% to 92% and the dramatic change in my reef, coral coloration, thickness and growth was nothing less then dramatic and changes were noticeable in just a few days. Teach me?

 

[Cory]

No, ATI compares your sample with a sample of reef water from Fiji. Depending upon how close your sample matches the Fiji NSW sample you are given a score. The closer you are to the Fiji sample, the higher your percentage.

Im curious what was lacking or you changed that made such a difference. Was it just iodine additions?

 

[Shredded]

Im curious what was lacking or you changed that made such a difference. Was it just iodine additions?

I had a few items that were low, see
the link below. I used Red Sea Trace Color A – Halogens (I2, Br2, F2) to bring up the Iodine as it was all I had at the time and I raised the strontium. I used the Red Sea Test kit to check the Iodine. I can’t definitively say it was just the Iodine but my levels were so low that I suspect it was the main issue. I’m not exaggerating when I say that within a few days the differences were quite dramatic. Coral that I thought were gone for sure made total recoveries. Colors became richer, and deeper, corals started encrusting rapidly, and sending up new branches. For most of you this is nothing, for me, that has not been able to grow a thing, I was thrilled. I broke off a very small branch, less then a 1/4” off one of my no name blue corals. I put a drop of super glue on a plug, set the little piece on the glue and then put it on the frag tray. 1 week later it had completing covered the glue and was beginning to encrust the plug.... again, for most of you, no big deal, but for me, a miracle!
https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/pdfen/38636

 

[Cory]

I had a few items that were low, see
the link below. I used Red Sea Trace Color A – Halogens (I2, Br2, F2) to bring up the Iodine as it was all I had at the time and I raised the strontium. I used the Red Sea Test kit to check the Iodine. I can’t definitively say it was just the Iodine but my levels were so low that I suspect it was the main issue. I’m not exaggerating when I say that within a few days the differences were quite dramatic. Coral that I thought were gone for sure made total recoveries. Colors became richer, and deeper, corals started encrusting rapidly, and sending up new branches. For most of you this is nothing, for me, that has not been able to grow a thing, I was thrilled. I broke off a very small branch, less then a 1/4” off one of my no name blue corals. I put a drop of super glue on a plug, set the little piece on the glue and then put it on the frag tray. 1 week later it had completing covered the glue and was beginning to encrust the plug.... again, for most of you, no big deal, but for me, a miracle!
https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/pdfen/38636

The link requires a password and username. Got a screenshot?

 

[MnFish1]

Something doesn't make sense - your salinity is measuring at 31....??? that is low. Though your refractometer reads 'ok' - I would get a new one and double check it - without at least 2 more measurement - its impossible to decide which one is 'correct'. I would start there. I dont know why you Na and CL are 'NL" but I didn't calculate either. Your salinity is low.

Edit - I didnt see that your solution was out of date. But - you still (or maybe I mis read it) - didnt explain which way yoru refractometer was 'misreading' was it 2.3 above or below (and BTW - your salinity with your refreaxtometer still doesnt match what was gotten by the ICP test.

PS @Randy Holmes-Farley I was not aware that an ICP test could measure 'nitrate' and 'phosphate' - instead I thought It read only individual elements?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Really? Can you tell me why? I'm definitely not on your level, but it sounded like picking a baseline, all be it random, to compare to, and have a standard to try to meet seemed solid. And what supported that in my head was when i made the adjustments suggested after my first test, my percentage went from 75% to 92% and the dramatic change in my reef, coral coloration, thickness and growth was nothing less then dramatic and changes were noticeable in just a few days. Teach me?

It’s totally gimmicky because it doesn’t say anything about what is off or how important that ion being off is or whether it is useful to do anything about it.

So you have an 88%. What good is that? If it is because calcium is 209 ppm, that’s a big concern. If it is because sulfate is 2300 ppm vs 2700 ppm in Fiji, that might not matter to any creature in the tank. Note that I made up those numbers to make the point, I have no idea how they weigh calcium and sulfate.